An IT malfunction in the electronic visa system of Danish embassies which was discovered on April 28 has caused significant problems for travelers from outside the Schengen Area who need travel visas to visit Iceland. The Icelandic Directorate of Immigration has no information on when the malfunction, which affects people applying for visas in 36 countries where Danish embassies or consulates handle visa applications to Iceland, might be solved.
In a response to Iceland Insider the press officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the malfunction means that it is currently impossible to process any travel visas in 33 of the 36 countries affected by the malfunction. Only the Icelandic embassies in Moscow and Peking can issue travel visas to Iceland, and thus the Schengen Area. In all other countries Iceland has agreements with other Schengen countries who handle visa applications on behalf of Iceland. In some countries the embassies or consulates of several countries can process visa applications for Iceland. This is the case in three of the 36 countries where Danish missions handle visa applications for Iceland.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently working to reach agreements with other Schengen member nations to handle visa applications in the countries where Danish missions have handled such applications, for example in the UK and Thailand.
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service reports that the Directorate of Immigration has received news of individual travelers as well as groups who have run into trouble due to the malfunction, but unfortunately the Directorate is unable to assist these travelers. In the meantime the employees of the Danish embassies and consulates have been doing their best to assist people in trouble.
An IT malfunction in the electronic visa system of Danish embassies which was discovered on April 28 has caused significant problems for travelers from outside the Schengen Area who need travel visas to visit Iceland. The Icelandic Directorate of Immigration has no information on when the malfunction, which affects people applying for visas in 36 countries where Danish embassies or consulates handle visa applications to Iceland, might be solved.
In a response to Iceland Insider the press officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the malfunction means that it is currently impossible to process any travel visas in 33 of the 36 countries affected by the malfunction. Only the Icelandic embassies in Moscow and Peking can issue travel visas to Iceland, and thus the Schengen Area. In all other countries Iceland has agreements with other Schengen countries who handle visa applications on behalf of Iceland. In some countries the embassies or consulates of several countries can process visa applications for Iceland. This is the case in three of the 36 countries where Danish missions handle visa applications for Iceland.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently working to reach agreements with other Schengen member nations to handle visa applications in the countries where Danish missions have handled such applications, for example in the UK and Thailand.
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service reports that the Directorate of Immigration has received news of individual travelers as well as groups who have run into trouble due to the malfunction, but unfortunately the Directorate is unable to assist these travelers. In the meantime the employees of the Danish embassies and consulates have been doing their best to assist people in trouble.
